Artillery 2024, November

Odyssey "Three-inch"

Odyssey "Three-inch"

In the 80s of the XIX century, many armies began to re-equip with rapid-fire guns. As a rule, these samples had a caliber of 75-77 mm and weighed about 1.5-2 tons. This combination provided, on the one hand, a sufficiently high mobility and ability to transport by means of a team of six

"Dora" and "Gustav" - the guns of the giants

"Dora" and "Gustav" - the guns of the giants

The Dora super-heavy rail-mounted artillery piece was developed in the late 1930s by the German company Krupp. This weapon was intended to destroy fortifications on the borders of Germany with Belgium, France (Maginot Line). In 1942, Dora was

Self-propelled artillery mount 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz.Kpfw.38 (t) Ausf.H Grille (Germany)

Self-propelled artillery mount 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz.Kpfw.38 (t) Ausf.H Grille (Germany)

In 1941-42, German industry made several attempts to create promising self-propelled artillery mounts with 150 mm guns. Such systems, due to their high indicators of firepower, were of particular interest to the troops, however, for various reasons, before

Self-propelled artillery mount 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz.Kpfw.38 (t) Ausf.M Grille (Germany)

Self-propelled artillery mount 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz.Kpfw.38 (t) Ausf.M Grille (Germany)

In the spring of 1943, the German army received 90 self-propelled artillery mounts 15 cm sIG 33 (SF) auf Pz.Kpfw.38 (t) Ausf.H Grille, equipped with 150 mm guns. This technique had rather high characteristics, however, even before the start of its serial assembly, a decision was made on the further

Large-caliber second grade

Large-caliber second grade

Everyone knows large-caliber guns, such as the 420-mm Bolshaya Berta howitzer, the 800-mm Dora cannon, the 600-mm self-propelled mortar Karl, the 457-mm guns of the battleship Yamato, the Russian Tsar Cannon. and the American 914-mm "Little David". However, there were other large-caliber guns, so

Siege mortar M-Gerät / Dicke Bertha (Germany)

Siege mortar M-Gerät / Dicke Bertha (Germany)

At the beginning of the last century, German industry was actively working on the creation of promising siege weapons of special power. In the event of a full-scale armed conflict, such weapons were to be used to destroy enemy fortresses and other fortifications. For several years

New type batteries

New type batteries

A 9-inch mortar on the Durlaher machine, installed for viewing in Sveaborg. On February 13, 1856, a congress of representatives of the great European powers opened in Paris to sum up the results of the Crimean War. It was the most ambitious European forum since 1815. Finally, on March 18, after 17

"Quiet mortar" 2B25 "Gall": a dangerous weapon of the Russian special forces

"Quiet mortar" 2B25 "Gall": a dangerous weapon of the Russian special forces

The Arab mass media traditionally have a rather good attitude towards Russian-made military equipment. Just the other day, the Egyptian edition of Al Mogaz published an article about the "silent mortar", calling it the most dangerous weapon of the Russian army. This comparison is

Aviation cannon ShVAK. The weapons of the Soviet aces

Aviation cannon ShVAK. The weapons of the Soviet aces

Large-caliber machine guns and the first cannons appeared on board aircraft during the First World War, but then these were only timid attempts to increase the firepower of the first aircraft. Until the mid-30s of the XX century, this weapon was used in aviation only sporadically. Real

Anti-tank gun MT-12

Anti-tank gun MT-12

The MT-12 100-mm anti-tank gun (ind. GRAU - 2A29, in some sources referred to as "Rapier") is a towed anti-tank gun developed in the late 1960s in the USSR. Serial production began in the 1970s. This anti-tank weapon is

Hyacinth-S - 152 mm self-propelled gun

Hyacinth-S - 152 mm self-propelled gun

The termination in the USSR of work on the creation of almost all types of artillery weapons at the end of the 50s led to the lag of domestic artillery behind the United States and other NATO countries in a number of areas, and primarily in the field of self-propelled, heavy and long-range guns. History has proven a mistake

Anti-tank gun 7,5 cm PAK 50 (Germany)

Anti-tank gun 7,5 cm PAK 50 (Germany)

The most effective anti-tank guns of the final stage of World War II were distinguished by their large size and corresponding mass, which made it difficult to operate them, in particular, to move around the battlefield. In 1943, the German command ordered the development of new guns, which were to

Anti-tank self-propelled guns of Germany during the war (part of 1) - Panzerjager I

Anti-tank self-propelled guns of Germany during the war (part of 1) - Panzerjager I

The presence of a large number of tanks in the armies of the countries of probable opponents forced the leadership of the Wehrmacht to attend to the issue of creating effective anti-tank weapons. Horse-drawn artillery from the beginning of the 30s of the twentieth century was already assessed as very slow and heavy. In addition, equestrian

Armored vehicles of Germany in World War II. Assault gun "Ferdinand"

Armored vehicles of Germany in World War II. Assault gun "Ferdinand"

The most famous German self-propelled gun of the Second World War Ferdinand owes its birth, on the one hand, to intrigues around the heavy tank VK 4501 (P), and on the other, to the appearance of the 88 mm Pak 43 anti-tank gun. Tank VK 4501 (P) - simply put "Tiger"

Soviet self-propelled guns during the war (part of 6) - ISU-122/152

Soviet self-propelled guns during the war (part of 6) - ISU-122/152

ISU-152 - Soviet heavy self-propelled gun of the final period of the Great Patriotic War. In the name of the self-propelled gun, the abbreviation ISU means that the self-propelled gun was created on the basis of the new heavy tank IS. The addition of the letter "I" in the designation of the installation was required in order to distinguish the machine from the existing one

Soviet self-propelled guns against German tanks. Part 2

Soviet self-propelled guns against German tanks. Part 2

By the beginning of 1943, an alarming situation for our command had developed on the Soviet-German front. According to reports coming from the tank units of the Red Army, the enemy began to massively use tanks and self-propelled guns, which, in terms of the characteristics of weapons and security, began to surpass our most

Soviet self-propelled guns against German tanks. Part 1

Soviet self-propelled guns against German tanks. Part 1

In this publication, an attempt is made to analyze the anti-tank capabilities of Soviet self-propelled artillery installations (ACS) that were available in the USSR during the Great Patriotic War. By the beginning of hostilities in June 1941, there were practically no self-propelled artillery mounts in the Red Army, although

Domestic anti-tank self-propelled artillery installations. Part 2

Domestic anti-tank self-propelled artillery installations. Part 2

To combat the new medium and heavy tanks that appeared in the United States and Great Britain, several types of anti-tank self-propelled guns were developed in the USSR after the war. In the mid-50s, production of the SU-122, designed on the basis of the T-54 medium tank, began. New self-propelled gun, designated for

Domestic anti-tank self-propelled artillery installations. Part 1

Domestic anti-tank self-propelled artillery installations. Part 1

Before the war in the USSR, numerous attempts were made to create various self-propelled artillery installations (ACS). Dozens of projects were considered, for many of them prototypes were built. But it never came to mass adoption. The exceptions were: 76-mm anti-aircraft

German medium and large caliber anti-aircraft artillery in World War II

German medium and large caliber anti-aircraft artillery in World War II

During World War II, medium and large-caliber anti-aircraft artillery acquired particular importance for the defense of Germany. Since 1940, British long-range bombers, and since 1943, American "flying fortresses" have systematically erased German cities and factories from the surface of the earth. Fighters

German anti-tank artillery in World War II. Part 1

German anti-tank artillery in World War II. Part 1

Contrary to popular belief, formed by feature films, literature and computer games such as "World of Tanks", the main enemy of Soviet tanks on the battlefield was not enemy tanks, but anti-tank artillery. Tank duels, of course, happened regularly, but not so often

German anti-tank artillery in World War II. Part 2

German anti-tank artillery in World War II. Part 2

During the first months of the war on the Eastern Front, the Germans captured several hundred Soviet 76-mm F-22 divisional guns (model 1936). Initially, the Germans used them in their original form as field guns, giving them the name 7.62 cm F.R.296 (r). This weapon was originally designed

British anti-tank artillery in World War II

British anti-tank artillery in World War II

By the beginning of hostilities in Europe, the main weapon of the British anti-tank units was the 2-pound 40-mm anti-tank gun. 2-pounder anti-tank gun in firing position The prototype of the 2-pounder cannon QF 2 pounder was developed by the Vickers-Armstrong company in 1934. According to his

American and British recoilless guns

American and British recoilless guns

During the Second World War, the American infantry quite successfully used the 60-mm M1 and M9 Bazooka rocket launchers against enemy tanks. However, this weapon, effective for its time, was not devoid of a number of disadvantages. Relying on combat experience, the military wanted to have a more long-range

German rocket artillery during the war. Part 2

German rocket artillery during the war. Part 2

In February 1943, the German armed forces adopted the 30 cm Wurfkorper Wurfgranate Spreng 300-mm high-explosive rocket mine (30 cm WK.Spr. 42), created taking into account the experience of the combat use of 280/320 mm rockets. This projectile weighing 127 kg and a length of 1248 mm had a flight range

German rocket artillery during the war. Part 1

German rocket artillery during the war. Part 1

Created before World War II in Germany, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) were originally intended for firing projectiles filled with chemical warfare agents and projectiles with a smoke-generating composition for setting smoke screens. However, in fairness it is worth noting

British and American rocket artillery of WWII

British and American rocket artillery of WWII

Work on the creation of combat missiles began in the UK in the late 1930s. The British military leadership was focused on the traditional means of destruction of targets on the battlefield (cannon artillery and aircraft) and did not perceive rockets as a serious weapon

Soviet non-recoil

Soviet non-recoil

The history of the creation of recoilless, or, as they said, dynamos - rocket cannons (DRP) began in the USSR in the mid-1920s, in the workshop - an auto laboratory under the Committee for Inventions, which was led by Leonid Vasilyevich Kurchevsky, who graduated from two courses of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics. Here

Fortress artillery 1914 - 1918

Fortress artillery 1914 - 1918

The number of different types of artillery pieces used in the First World War to defend forts and fortresses is very large and is a reflection of the different approach to their armament in different countries. In many of them, the attitude towards forts and fortresses was similar to our Russian attitude towards

War is war, and commerce is commerce. World War I commercial cannons

War is war, and commerce is commerce. World War I commercial cannons

Let's start with the question: what can be considered a "commercial tool"? And here's what: a weapon produced specifically for another country and sold to it. This is not licensed production in our own factories. These are commercial products, and very often differ in details from the original. Take 150mm

Fighter anti-tank artillery of the Red Army

Fighter anti-tank artillery of the Red Army

The history and heroes of the elite type of troops born during the Great Patriotic War The fighters of these units were envied and - at the same time - sympathetic. "The trunk is long, life is short", "Double salary - triple death!", "Farewell, Motherland!" - all these nicknames hinting at a high mortality rate

"Solntsepek" is not needed?

"Solntsepek" is not needed?

Many have probably noticed that references to various weapons systems appear in "wave mode". For example, last autumn there was another wave of talk about the heavy flame-throwing systems TOS-1 "Buratino" and TOS-1A "Solntsepek". As is always the case, some people admired the fighting

Artillery of the Korean People's Army. Part 2. Self-propelled guns

Artillery of the Korean People's Army. Part 2. Self-propelled guns

The first self-propelled guns in the KPA were the Soviet SU-76s, from 75 to 91 units of which were supplied from the USSR before the start of the Korean War. Thus, in the artillery regiment of each North Korean infantry division there was a self-propelled artillery division (12 light self-propelled artillery units SU-76 with

Luka and Katyusha vs. Vanyusha

Luka and Katyusha vs. Vanyusha

A salvo of the BM-13 Katyusha guards rocket launchers, on the chassis of the American Stedebecker trucks (Studebaker US6). The Carpathian region, western Ukraine, or a story about how "Katyusha" became "Katyusha" and ousted from the history of an important hero "Luka" with an indecent, but completely front-line "surname"

Self-propelled artillery "Crusader". XM2001 Crusader Project (USA)

Self-propelled artillery "Crusader". XM2001 Crusader Project (USA)

For half a century, the basis of US self-propelled artillery has been the self-propelled guns of the M109 family. The last modification of this self-propelled gun, called the M109A6 Paladin, entered service in the early nineties. Despite the fairly high characteristics, the ACS "Paladin" no longer fully responds

American 155 mm self-propelled howitzer M109

American 155 mm self-propelled howitzer M109

The M109 is an American self-propelled artillery unit, a class of self-propelled howitzers that has become the most common in the world. М109 was created in 1953-1960. to replace the unsuccessful M44 ACS, in parallel with the 105 mm M108. Serially produced in the United States. Between 1962 and 2003

Lightly armored "self-propelled amphibious installation K-73" or "amphibious airborne self-propelled artillery installation ASU-57P"

Lightly armored "self-propelled amphibious installation K-73" or "amphibious airborne self-propelled artillery installation ASU-57P"

After the Great Patriotic War, work on samples of weapons and military equipment for the Airborne Forces was widely developed in our country. If we talk about armored vehicles, the main efforts were focused on creating an anti-tank self-propelled artillery installation. One of the first to address this

News in the field of 155-mm artillery systems

News in the field of 155-mm artillery systems

Konstrukta's new Diana self-propelled gun is a turret with 155/52 Zuzana 2 cannon from the same company, mounted on the upgraded UPG-NG chassis of the Polish company Bumar-Labedy

Airborne Scorpion

Airborne Scorpion

During the Second World War, there was a steady trend towards an increase in the caliber of anti-tank artillery. So, the American army entered the war with 37 mm cannons, and ended it with 76 and 90 mm guns. The increase in caliber inevitably entailed an increase in the mass of the gun. For

Gorky alternative

Gorky alternative

The history of Soviet light self-propelled artillery installations is inextricably linked with the city of Gorky, present-day Nizhny Novgorod. It was here that artillery systems were developed and built, which were installed on light Soviet self-propelled guns. Here they created and produced the ZIS-30, the first serial